Originally posted in Neuwrite San Diego, June 28, 2018 Summer is upon us, and with that comes much-anticipated vacation travel. As you pack your bag with sunblock, clothes that haven’t seen the light of day since your trip last year, and that sci-fi novel that has been sitting on your nightstand since February, don’t forget what … Continue reading Zika: Predicting the Long-Term Effects of an Unrelenting Virus

Originally posted in Psychology Today June 12, 2018 Researchers have found that a more active immune system in a pregnant mother can negatively impact the brain of her developing fetus. Previous epidemiological studies revealed a link between maternal inflammation (i.e. activation of mom’s immune system) and an increase in her child’s likelihood of developing a psychiatric disease... [Continued in Psychology … Continue reading Did Mom’s Immune System Affect Your Fetal Brain?

Originally posted in Psychology Today April 2, 2018 Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing have broken new ground with their recent work examining the prefrontal cortex at the single cell level during human fetal development... [Continued in Psychology Today]

Originally posted in Neuwrite San Diego February 15, 2018 Awards season is upon us. From the Golden Globes to the Grammys to the Oscars, we’ve seen celebrities posing on the red carpet, chatting with TV hosts, and accepting awards on stage. All the while I’ve found myself wondering, “Is he happy?” “Is she disappointed?” “Are emotions just … Continue reading Botox: The good, the bad and the beautiful

Originally posted in NeuWrite San Diego November 23, 2017 SciCommCamp can be best described as a not-so-average conference for a diverse group of fabulously nerdy science communicators with a common goal: to make science publicly accessible. I left SciCommCamp with pep in my step and a bit more confidence in my planned post-graduate school transition out of … Continue reading Science and S’mores: SciCommCamp 2017

Originally published by The Qualcomm Institute September 26, 2017 “Whose advisor is unhappy that they’re here today?” asked Leanne Chukoskie, an assistant research scientist at the Institute for Neural Computation at UC San Diego and an affiliate of the Qualcomm Institute. Looking around at a sea of raised hands, she continued, “Know that the act … Continue reading Science for All: Shifting Academic Communication at ComSciCon

Originally published by The Q September 7, 2017 If you’re currently in science research then you’re well aware of the funding deficit, and it’s likely that at one point you or a fellow scientist friend has had research (or maybe even a job) on the line while eagerly awaiting a grant score. So, outside of completely reworking … Continue reading Scientist Seeking Funding: Tips for Grant Writing

September 8, 2017 As I formally accepted the offer to join my Ph.D. program, the massive weight on my chest began to dissolve, my shoulders relaxed, and my headache subsided. Choosing a program had been quite the roller coaster ride, filled with uncertainty and sleepless nights. “Phew, well that's finally over,” I said to myself. … Continue reading Choose a program, have a life

Originally published by NeuWrite San Diego August 17, 2017 Do you live in a generally cool, dry place and rarely think about mosquitoes? Was last year’s Zika outbreak of little personal concern? You may not have the option of staying carefree for much longer. The Zika-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquito is already enjoying widespread breeding grounds as temperatures steadily rise across … Continue reading Zika: Has this virus lost its bite?

Originally published by The Q July 26, 2017 As I enter into what is likely the final year of my PhD in the Biomedical Sciences program at the University of California San Diego, I regularly find myself contemplating the last four years. Although my experience has been a generally positive one, it has also been filled … Continue reading This is why we need time machines: A PhD reflection

Originally published by The Q May 16, 2017 When I was applying to graduate school I was under the impression that after obtaining my PhD there were two options: start a postdoctoral position in the hopes of one day securing a faculty spot at a research institution, or take an “alternative” career path and move into industry. It … Continue reading Alternative science careers: Beyond academia and industry

Originally published by The BMS Times April 20, 2017 So, you’re heading to the March for Science this Saturday. Scientists and their supporters will unify to bring awareness to the importance that science holds in our community, but then what? What happens once the excitement surrounding the March for Science dies down? How can we bring awareness to … Continue reading Looking Beyond the March: How Do We Continue to Advocate for Science?

Originally published by the Qualcomm Institute March 25, 2017 What if you could go on a digital dive to experience shipwrecks and other maritime heritage? This is exactly what a team of engineers, scientists and archaeologists are planning to make reality as they launch the Bermuda 100 Challenge, an ambitious campaign to document at least 100 … Continue reading Bermuda 100 Challenge: Preserving Shipwrecks, Pixel by Pixel

Originally published by The BMS Times I feel lucky to live in such an amazing spot. No, I’m not talking sand and surf—I’m talking science. There are few places in the country (or the world, actually) that can compete with what San Diego has to offer. From academic research and drug development to public events … Continue reading Out and About in San Diego: Events for the Science Enthusiast

January 30, 2017 Moving forward and creating change is only possible if we use knowledge and reason to work through the frustration and anger. Moving forward and creating change is only possible if we use knowledge and reason to work through the frustration and anger….[deep breaths] As a female scientist in the early days of her career, at what … Continue reading Last Week Was Rough

Originally published by The Scripps Institution of Oceanography UCSD Emeriti Association and Australian academy honor Kennel and Haymet Former Scripps directors Charles Kennel (left) and Tony Haymet Former Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego directors Charles Kennel and Tony Haymet have been granted prestigious awards that recognize past and current achievements … Continue reading Accolades for Two Former Scripps Directors

Originally published by Calit2 Debashis Sahoo, an assistant professor in both the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California San Diego, has been selected as a participating member of the Cancer Genomes and Networks program at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. Members of the Cancer … Continue reading Debashis Sahoo: From Computers to Cancer Genomes

Biomedical Sciences Chair Dr. Arshad Desai is known for pushing students to think. I mean, really, really, think. Ask any UCSD Biomedical Sciences student and they’ll tell you how much it paid off to have Arshad in the classroom, helping students develop into more thoughtful readers and problem solvers. As a student, you gradually stop … Continue reading “When I was in Grad School…” with Arshad Desai

Heidi Cook-Andersen did not plan to be a scientist. Heidi was the first in her family to attend college and her father always wished he had the opportunity to go to law school, so at a young age, Heidi remembers her father impressing upon her that being a lawyer was the ideal career choice. Although … Continue reading “When I was in Grad School…” with Heidi Cook-Andersen

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending Nobel Prize winner Shinya Yamanaka’s talk on the first day of the UC San Diego-Kyoto University Joint Symposium. Although I’m not a stem cell researcher, I’m very much aware of the buzz surrounding induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) research—the excitement that began back in 2006 … Continue reading Shinya Yamanaka on the Current State of iPSC Therapy

Last month I attended a panel at the Career Services Center for insight into what a future in medical writing may look like, as it is something I’ve started thinking about more seriously in recent months. I quickly learned that employment possibilities in the medical writing field are far more diverse than what I previously … Continue reading Careers in Medical Writing